Gripping tool for jars



y 14, 1931- O s. VITAL! 1,814,014

GRIPPING TOOL FOR JARS Filed Sept. 18/1930 Patented July 14, 1931 UNITED STATES STEVEN VITALI, F PLAINS, PENNSYLVANIA GRIPPING TOOL FOR JARS Application filed September 18, 1930. Serial No. 482,724.

This invention relates to improvements in gripping devices of the type used in canning, preserving and the like, and has for an object to provide an implement of this character which will seize and securely hold an object with the least expenditure of effort.

A further object is to provide a tool of this type adapted to be used in the various operations incident to canning, as for instance, in lifting out a heated can from the steam bath and then using another part of the same tool to seize the can while the top is being placed or to seize the top to tighten it upon the can or like container.

A further object is to provide a tool of this character with means to firmly grip the object at three or more points, thus providing a firm grip'.

A further object is to provide in a tool of this type means to center the working ends of the tool in a lateral direction and to provide adjacent gripping elements.

A further object is to provide auxiliary I working elements adjacent the gripping faces and conveniently operable by the handles of the gripping tool.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of this device in position upon an object such as a glass preserving jar; particularly as used when lifting 'the jar from the preserving kettle;

Figure 2 is a view of the device inposition as when used to tighten the screw cap upon a glass preserving jar, an auxiliary holding device being shown at the bottom of the jar;

Figure 3 is a section on the, line 3-3 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, showing particularly the auxiliary holding device.

Referring particularly to thedrawings the device is shown positioned upon a jar J and comprises handles 5 provided with finger apertures 6. These handles are curved at 7 so that when gripped the apertured portions approach each other in parallel and are further bent at 8 so that they cross at the pivot 9, and are extended at 10 in the same plane with the portions 5, 6, and 8.

This extension is bent at 11 at right angles to present a flat portion 12 which will lie close to the object to be gripped, and is then angularly bent to provide a downwardly projecting tongue 13 carrying an arcuate spanning finger 14 secured thereto as by rivet 15. This spanning finger may be lined with rubber and is of such radius that the ends 16 will grip the object.

Secured as by rivets 17 to the portion 12, or integrally formed therewith are mounted auxiliary working elements. On one is mounted a bottle cap'opener 18 and on the other is mounted a can cutting tool 19.

Additional work elementsmay be secured in appropriate places near the handles. A cork screw 20 is shown.

The handles bear a series of teeth 21 along the inner arc thereof and these are adapted to grip the top T of the ar when in position as shown in Figure 2.

An auxiliary holding device 22 comprising arcuate strap members 23 and'24 may be used in holding the jar J when tightening the top T upon it. The member 24 is preferably lined with rubber 25 and carries a series of hook members 26 adapted to pass throughrapertures 27 in the member 23 so that the two arcuate portions may be moved to adjust themselves to different size jars. Finger pieces 28 and 29 are provided in the ends of the strap members to assist in holding the same.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

lVhat I claim is: I

A tool for interchangeably grasping a jar by the end to lift it endwise or to clamp it transversely as for screwing or unscrewing a cap, comprising a pair of handle parts pivoted together intermediate their ends having hand-grip portions at one end, being thence outwardly curved from each other so 7 as to enclose a jar transversely When the hand-grip portions are brought together, the handle parts being pivoted to each other beyond these curved portions, thence diverging sharply and having their free ends bent back substantially into parallelism and having transverse curved jaws to engage the end of [he jar With the handles in line With the jar.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

STEVEN VITALI. 

